Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has sought to allay fears of an imminent economic crisis in the country, telling citizens they do not need to stockpile canned meat and matches, his press service said on Monday.

“I am confident we will succeed in avoiding a crisis like that of 2008-9. There is no need to stockpile canned meat, soap, matches and salt!” Medvedev said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper due to be published on Tuesday, the press service said.